Nature serves as our greatest artistic muse. It stirs feelings and emotions in us and was a source of inspiration for ancient Chinese artists. Four plants, in particular, the plum blossom, the orchid, the bamboo, and the chrysanthemum, were known as the Four Gentlemen, or “Junzi” in ancient China. “Ink Plum” by Wang Mian. Handscroll:…

Talk about your yard sale finds. A small porcelain bowl bought for $35 at a Connecticut yard sale turned out to be a rare 15th century Chinese artifact worth between $300,000 and $500,000 that is about to go up for auction at Sotheby’s. The white bowl adorned with cobalt blue paintings of flowers and other…